Hog-ringing implement.



.To au whom it may concern:

'UNITED STAT-Es l Patented.(Api-ril li, I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GoULD, sn., oF cLrNronrENNsYLvANIA.

A iHoG-mNGmG1MPLEMENT.,

SPECIFICATION forming partici' 'Letters Patent No. 786,786, dated April4, 1905.

applicati@ nea May 26, 1904. serial No. 209,822.

Be it known that I, JOHN GoULD,-Sr., a i

citizen of the United States, and aresident of Clinton, in the county ofAllegheny 'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedHog-Ringing Implement, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description. Y f

This invention relates to mechanical means for insertingvand securing aring inthe snout of a hog to prevent the beast fromrootinf'r soil, andhas for its object to provide novel features of construction for ahog-ringing Vimplement that are simple, practical, and

easily operated and which adapt the tool to automatically close a ringin the'rim of the snout when applied thereto. v f

The invention consists in the novel .construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis speciication, in which similarv characters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in all the -gures Figure y'1 is a side view, of theimplement applied to the snout of a hog for insertion of a ring therein.Fig. l1 is a side view of the ring to be applied by the implement,showing it open by full lines and the members of the same closed bydotted lines, the-closure being effected by the improved implement. Fig.2 is an enlarged side view of the implement, showing parts thereof setfor the compression of a ring, so as to close the spaced pointed ends ofthe ring, the dotted lines indicating the relative positions of saidparts when the ring has been closed automatically by the changedadjustment of the tool. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the implement. Fig. 4is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of a handled shank, apostthereon, a springpressed latch-bar pivoted.upon,the post, a tripping-barpivoted by one end onan end of the latch-bar, andan end portion ofajawlimb whereon the latch-bar may be detachably hooked; andFig. 5 is aside view of the forward portion of the handle-lever, showing anintegral jaw, partly in section, and a `j oint-N An elongated shank 6,formed of metal, preferably rectangular in cross-sectionl and ofsuitable length, is provided, having a Zgrip piece or handle 6L at oneend and a jaw 6 at Vleaf on an edge ofthe handle-bar near the i the.opposite end. The jaw 6b is curved somewhat, so as to render its lowersurface concave, said surfacev having a longitudinal channel a, formedtherein, which extends fromA the free end of the jaw rearward a properlength for effective use, as will hereinafter be fully described, thisconstruction appearing in Fig. 5.

At 4the heell of the jaw 6b a joint-leaffio is formed on the handledshank 6 and extends below the concave face of the jaw, this-leaf posedto the concavity in the jaw 6b, and a jacent to the jaw 7 a joint-leaf 7b is formed on the limb 7, which has lappedcontact with a side of theleaf 6 and is centrally perforated to receive the pivot bolt c, thatpasses through the -registering perforations in the lapped leaves, asindicated in Fig. 2. In the concaved surface of thejaw 7 a a channel ais formed of a length equal to that of the channel a and similar inother respects thereto, said channel extending from the outer end of thejaw toward the joint-leaf 7 b, so'that the channels a and a are directlyopposite each other. y Y

l To-dispose'the jaws 7 a 6b in the same plane, the joint-leaves thereonare reduced in thickness by forming open recesses, each removingone-halfV the thickness of a respective leaf, this construction andarrangement of parts disposing the limb 7 and the shank 6 inthesameplane'with the jaws considered laterally. The relative arrangement ofthejaws roo which is secured upon the side of the lever-b ar 6 nearestto and opposite the uppers urface of the limb 7, said spring having thefree ends thereof projected toward the hinged jointleaves 6 7b and thebowed end toward the handle 6,

An abutment-arm 9 is extended from one side of the shank 6 at a suitablepoint between the pivot-bolt c and the free ends of the spring 8, saidarm at its lower end curving edgewise, so as to produce an upturnedmember 9a thereon, upon which the lower leg 8 of the spring is impingedwhen said spring is in an uncompressed condition, this contact servingto control the divergence of the lower spring member from the upper one,as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In a threaded perforation in the jaw-limb 7 a set-screw bolt 10 isscrewed and may be adjusted toward and from the lower member or leg 8 ofthe spring S, and upon said leg, near the free end thereof, a wear-plate8b is pivoted near one of its ends, and the other end of the wear-plate,which projects toward the pivot-bolt c, is curved downward near saidend, whereby it is adapted to have contact with the end of the set-screwbolt 10, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. At the end of thejaw-limb 7, projected near the handle 6, a hook member 7C is formed,which projects laterally therefrom at the side of said limb opposite theside thereof which loosely contacts with the side of the abutment-arm 9,and the upper side of the hook member is conveXed to adapt it forservice.

A tripping-bar 11, shaped laterally to permit it to lie closely againstone side of the shank 6, is longitudinally slotted, as at d, near itsend that in service is located at the outer side of the jaw 6b, as shownin Fig. 2. The tripping-bar 11 is held to slide a limited distance bythe stud-bolt e, having a head e thereon, said stud-bolt being insertedthrough the slot d and screwed into a threaded perforation d, (shown inFig. 5,) the head of the bolt preventing an outward displacement of thetripping-bar.

A post 12 is extended from the shank 6 toward the latch-hook 7 C, andupon the side of the post nearest the tripping-bar 11 a hookbar 13 ispivoted near the center of said bar. The upper end of the hook-bar 13 ispivoted upon the adjacent end of the tripping-bar 1l, as is indicated atf in Fig. 2, so that a sliding movement of the latter will rock thehooke bar. The outer end of the hook-bar 13 is Aprovided with alatch-hook 13, shaped to readily engage with and lock fast to thelatchhook 7C when the jaw-limb 7 is depressed against the stress ofthespring 8.

A finger-spring 14 is secured by its upper portion upon the shank 6, andthence projects downward at the side of the hookbar 13, opposite theside on which the hook 13 is formed, and on the lower end of thelinger-spring a lateral extension 14 is formed that presses upon saidside of the hook-bar, whereby the hook 13 is norm ally held pressedtoward the handle 6a of the shank 6, this rocking adjustment of thehook-bar being limited by the contact of the rear end of the slot d uponthe screw-stud e.

A lateral pressure-arm 11 (see Figs. 2 and 3) is formed or secured uponthe end of the tripping-bar 11, that is lapped upon the side of the jaw6b, said arm being thickened outwardly from the body of the bar to giveit necessary strength, as shown in Fig. 3, said arm projecting part wayacross the gap between the jaws 7 6b, and is thus adapted for contactupon an object introduced between said aws.

A yoke-plate 15 is pivoted upon the outer side ofthe limb 7 or the jawthereon, farthest from the tripping-bar 11 by the same pivotbolt c'thatholds the jaws 7 l 6h together, and the rocking movement of theyoke-plate is limited by a lateral flange 1.5, that projeets from theend of the plate 15 nearest the arm 9 and is located near thejoint-leaves on the limb and shank, said flange at its ends having aslight clearance from the inner sides of the limb 7 and shank 6 when thelimb 7 is hooked upon the hook-bar 13. The yokeplate is substantiallytriangularin contour, having one edge at the front of the jaws 7l 6h,and a slot or opening g is formed in the yokeplate from said edgethereof, thus producing an opening of a suitable width and depth in theyoke-plate opposite the gap betuuien the jaws 7L 6 The slot or opening gprovides two spaced members 15" on the yoke-plate 15, that at their freeends are sloped on the edges, so as to give them equal ii'lclinai'iontoward the rear of the slot or opening g. (ln the sloped free edges ofthe yoke members 15b similar iianges 15" are projected laterallytherefrom and away from the jaws 7 6", in advance of which theyrespectively extend. The lateral fianges serve as guides for eontactwith the muscular rim of a hogs snout B and locate the jaws 7 6') atproper points thereon when the implement is applied for service.

The rings that are to be secured in the snouts of hogs by the use of theimproved implement are alike and before application are shaped,essentially, as shown in Fig. 1, 1, and 2, each consisting of a wire rodeut sloping on the ends tand bent at two acute angles i an equaldistance from said ends, thus producing two short limbs A on a longermember A of said open angular` ring, the limbs A being separatedsuliciently at their ends to permit them to embrace the circularrim-like cartilage B of the nose or snout of a hog.

Preparatory to the operation of allixing a wire ring in the snout of ananimal the implement is adjusted as shown in Figs. 1 and essary to holdthe animal, as the animal may.

2 by fullY lines. To'effect this'adjustment, the screw-bolt 10 isscrewed through the jawlimb 7, so as to project its end for a propercontact with the wear-plate 8b, that is eX- tended in advance of thespring member 8, upon which it is pivoted. The jaw-limb 7 is now pressedtoward the shank 6, thus forcibly impinging the point of the screw 10upon the upper member 8@L of the plate-spring 8, this pressurepermitting the hook 7C toengage with the latch-hook 13a at the lower'endof the hook-bar 13,.this hooked engagement being enforced by the tensionof the ngerspring. 14, that presses the latch-hook rear-` wardly, thishooked connection causing the tripping-bar 11 to slide forwardly adistance limited by the contact of the stud-bolt e upon the rear end ofthe slot d. The jaws 7a are now diverged a distance controlled by theset of the screw 10, as its projection .more or less at the innerside-of the j aw-limb 7- will. define the degree of compression given tothe spring 8, the length of theshook-bar 13 also coacting to control thespreading apart ofsaid jaws. .The distance 'between the bot-y toms ofthe channels c a in the jaws 7a 6b when the latterl are spread apartfully is just suiiicient to permit one of the open rings to be pressedtherein, the angles i on therings occupying the channels. It will beseen that the limbs A of the open ring that has been placed between thejaws of the implement have their points i projected forwardly,l andthese points are so diverged that they may be passed over the upper edgeof the snout B of a hog between the nostrils, this engagement appearingin Fig. 1. From their relative location and arrangement the flanges 15Con the yoke-plate 15 are of considerable advantage in guiding the jaws7a 62 into proper position centrally on -the snout B of a hog. Thepressure-arm 11@ is now in loose contact with the front surface of thesnout B centrally between the nostrils of the beast, and said arm by itsposition on the snout. indicates whether the ring is properly disposedthereon. It is not at all times necbe induced to remain stationary byfeeding it or by other means. f

The operation of applying a ring is as follows: A quick pressure of thearm`11a upon the snout B will slide the tripping-arm 11 rearward androck the hook-bar 13, so as to detach the latch-hook 13a from the hook 7C,

thus releasing the rear end of the jaw-limb 7.l

The spring 8 instantly resumes its normal condition, throwing the limb 7downward, the end portion of the spring member 8a being checked from toogreat a divergence by its impingement upon the member 9a of theabutment-arm 9,. as is indicated by dotted lines in. Fig. 2. The.forcible and instant downward rocking movement of the jawlimb 7correspondingly rocks the j awr7 a towardthe jaw 6b`and ofcourse bendsthe open ring, sov that the points i on the limbs A are forcedtowardeach other and into the rim portion of the snout B wherein thering is thus non-removably secured, the operation being automatic landinstantaneous.

Having thus escribed my invention,. I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. An implement for ringing hogs, embodying a limb,an elongated shank lapped and pivoted upon the limb, mating jaws on likeends of the limb and shank and adapted to hold an open ring betweenthem, a spring be-Y tween the limb and shank, normally spread# ing themapart and partly closing the jaws, means for holding thc limb and shankpressed toward each other against the stress of the spring, and meansfor releasing the limb from the shank to permit4 closure of the jaws.

v2. An implement for ringing hogs, embody-l ing alimb, an elongatedshank lapped and piv-Y oted upon the limb near like ends of the same,

jaws on the ends. of the limb and shank near their. pivot connection,said jaws having conf cave inner faces, and a channel 1n Aeach concaveface for the reception of an open wire ring, a plate-spring having twodivergent members and held between the limb and shank, releasable meansfor holding thelimb pressed toward the shank so as to spread apart thejaws against the stress of the spring, and means for releasing the limbwhe'n said means is pressed upon the snout of an animal which isto beengaged by 'the ring held be-` tween the jaws.

IOO

3. An implement for ringing hogs, comprismg an elongated shank, anelongated v limb, the limb and shank bein-g lapped together and pivotedWhere'they lap, jaws on the ends of the limb and shank near theirjointed connection, said jaws having concave inner faces and channels insaid faces extended from the free ends ofthe jaws, said channels beingadapted to receive an openwire ring, a looped plate-spring secured byone member on the inner side of the shank, an adjustable screw in thelimb, adapted to contact witha wear-plate on the other member of saidspring, for compression of said spring when the limb is pressed towardthe shank, a hook on the rear end of the limb, a.

post on the shank near said hook, a hook-bar pivoted between its ends onthe post, and

and pivoted elongated bars, a jaw 0n each bar near the pivot connection,said jaws have. ing opposed concave .faces'and a hook on the oppositeend of one bar, of a post on the other bar near said hook, a hook-barpivoted between its ends on the post and having a hook adapted to engagethe other hook, a spring between the two bars, normally spreading themapart for the closure of the jaws, said spring being compressed when thehookbar engages with the mating hook on the hinged bar, a screwin saidhinged bar, adaptedrfor pressure on the spring to compress it, anabutment-arm having a member opposing the spring to restrict itsexpansion, and a tripping-bar held to slide on one elongated bar, saidtripping-bar being pivoted at one end upon the upper end of thehook-bar, and at the opposite end having a pressure arm for contact withthe snout of an animal whereby to release the hook-bar and permit aclosure of the jaws.

5. In an implement of the character described, the combination with anelongated limb having a concave-faced jaw on one end and a hook on theother end, an elongated shank lapped and pivoted on the limb, a jaw onthe shank near the pivot and having a similar concave face, said concavefaces having like longitudinal channels therein, and a yoke-platesecured on one jaw, having an open slot opposite the space between thejaws, of a post on the shank near the hook on the end of the limb, ahook-bar pivoted between its ends on said post, a latch-hook on thelower end of the hook-bar, adapted to engage the hook on the limb, afinger-spring pressing upon the hook-bar, a spring normally spreadingthe limb and shank apart, means for restricting the expansion of saidspring, and a tripping-bar held to slide on the shank, one end of saidbar havinga pressure* arm thereon for contact with the snout of ananimal, the other end thereof being pivoted upon the upper end of thehook-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence ol two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN eoULD, sa.

Vitnesses:

E. J. MCCULLOUGH, R. H. ADAMS.

